THOUSAND OAKS : Planners Approve Du-par’s Demolition

Du-par’s Restaurant and Bakery, a 30-year-old Thousand Oaks landmark, is one step closer to being demolished so that a shopping center can occupy its prime location at the northwest corner of Thousand Oaks and Conejo boulevards.

The Thousand Oaks Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday night to allow the Village Co. to level the restaurant and put in its place a two-building commercial center.

The $5.5-million project must now be approved by the City Council upon the request of Councilman Alex Fiore. No date has been set for council action.

Du-par’s opened in 1960, before Thousand Oaks became a city. It is one of four Du-par’s restaurants in the Los Angeles area and now largely patronized by senior citizens.

Over the years, Du-par’s has been a central meeting place for area residents and travelers on the Ventura Freeway.

“Du-par’s has been such a major spot of importance in this community,” said Planning Commissioner Irving Wasserman.

“When I was 13 years old, I took my first date to Du-par’s . . . but change is inevitable,” said Larry Janss, owner of the Village Co.

Thousand Oaks Planner Bob Rickards said although some people have told him that they were sad to see the restaurant close, nothing has been submitted in writing to the city attempting to prevent its closure.

But according to Du-par’s manager Marian Robinson, “a customer came in yesterday morning and started a petition against the closing. It has about 150 names on it.” The petition has not been submitted to the city.

At Monday night’s meeting, only one of Du-par’s longtime customers spoke against its destruction.

Thousand Oaks resident Nick Renna called the restaurant a historical landmark and added that even if the restaurant was relocated, “it will never be the same.”

Du-par’s is working on plans to relocate, Janss said. The restaurant had a 30-year lease with the Village Co., which expired in December. Janss said he had been working closely with Du-par’s owner, Herb Oberst, to make the transition easier. “We did not walk up and say get out,” Janss said.